Bar's License Suspended Following Melee

November 05, 1994|By Suzanne G. Hlotke, Special to the Tribune.

A melee at Cody Coyote's, a popular and often unruly nightspot in Glendale Heights that has been the scene of repeated police calls, resulted in the suspension Friday of the establishment's liquor license by the Glendale Heights liquor commissioner.

During an emergency meeting called to discuss a disturbance at Cody's early Friday morning, the Glendale Heights Village Board agreed to investigate the business license of the nightspot. The board's action followed an announcement by Village President Ben Fajardo, acting in his job as village liquor commissioner, that Cody's liquor license has been suspended until Thursday, when a hearing will be held to deterimine if the suspension will be lifted.

FOR THE RECORD - Additional material published Nov. 8, 1994:Corrections and clarifications.An article in some editions Saturday incorrectly stated that an emergency session of the Glendale Heights Village Board was called by a trustee. The meeting actually was called by Village President Ben Fajardo, acting in his capacity as village liquor control commissioner. The Tribune regrets the error.

The Village Board meeting was held hours after the brawl that led to the arrest of three men who were charged with mob action and other charges.

Police, who said they were confronted early Friday by some 100 patrons during the faceoff, said they had to call for help from neighboring Bloomingdale.

Trustee Charles Wheeler called the meeting after learning of the incident.

"Cody's is a hazard to the community," he said.

"They don't police themselves, do not provide adequate security and it is a danger to the town," he said. "When the rest of the residents don't have adequate protection because all our officers are there, I have a big problem."

The incident allegedly began about 12:40 a.m. when Rafael K. Wesley, 31, of 225 W. Roosevelt Rd., Wheaton, was arrested after he bumped into Patrol Officer Dawn Alaimo several times outside of Cody's.

Wesley allegedly shoved Alaimo with his right shoulder and then allegedly charged at Officer Randy Logan, who had come to assist in Wesley's arrest. Wesley allegedly continued to fight with the officers until he was taken to DuPage County Jail, police said. He was charged with mob action, resisting arrest and battery.

By then, a crowd of about 100 people gathered outside Cody's, police said, and backup officers from Glendale Heights and Bloomingdale were called to the scene.

Police said Craig R. Weikel, 22, of 227 Pinewood Lane, Bloomingdale, was arrested and charged with resisting arrest after he moved aggressively toward the officers and refused to leave the area when ordered to do so.